Air pump adapter for internal-combustion engines



P J SHEEHAN 2,634,089

AIR PUMP ADAPTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES mmvroa; PATRICK |EEHANBY mm V M A-rrv Filed June 2, 1950 April 7', 1953 Patented Apr. 7, 1953AIR PUMP ADAPTER FOR INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES- Patrick J. Sheehan,Bellwood, Ill., assignor to Super Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application June 2, 1950,, Serial No. 165,737

3 Claims.

This. invention is directed to new and useful improvements in air pumpadapter for internal combustion engine whereby an air pump is formed,which can be used for inflating pneumatic tires. More specifically thisinvention is directed to a device which is adapted to be substituted fora spark plug ofan internal combustion motor so that when the motor isoperated, the piston of the cylinder in which the device has beensubstituted for the spark plug will draw outside air through the deviceon the downstroke and eject air under pressure on the upstroke through aconduit or hose. I

It is realized that many devices have heretofore been used for the samepurpose but it is the pri-.

mary object of this invention to provide such a device which is superiorto those because of its simplicity in design and function.

A further object of thisi-nvention is to provide a novel flap valveassembly in such a device adapted for easy construction and assembly.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in such a devicea novel flap valve assembly of parts so simple in construction that anunskilled operator can readily fabricate duplicate parts should repairor replacement be necessary in the field.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section of a device embodyingthese inventions in operative position in the cylinder of an internalcombustion engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical cross sectional view of thedevice shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the valve flap retainer.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve flap before assembly.

In detail I indicates a cylinder of an internal combustion engine withthe adapter device 2 embodying these inventions positioned in the spark.plug opening 3. A flexible air hose 4 leads from the device 2 fordelivering air pressure where desired.

The adapter 2 comprises a cylindrical chamber 5 extendin from the lowerend to a point about midway between the two ends. An air passage 6 leadsfrom the upper end of chamber 5 to the outlet I. Positioned in airpassage 6 is a ball valve assembly of well known construction comprisinga ball 8, a lower ball seat 9, an upper seat III and air slots H,normally closing air passage 6 but adapted to permit the escape of airunder pressure.

For ease in assembly the chamber 5 is formed by a central casing l2 anda lower cap I 3 secured together in threaded relation. The lower end ofcap I3 has external threads I4 of the same size as the internal threadsof the cylinder I. Opposite sides of central casing I2 are provided withair intake slots I5 and opposed solid portions I6 lie between the areasof the slots I5.

The flap valve assembly for controlling the intake of air through slotsI5 comprises a single rectangular piece of resilient material such asrubber forming the flap valve I I rolled into a tubular form andinserted in the upper part of chamber 5 in casing I2 adjacent the slotsI5. The length of the flap valve is less than the circumference of theupper part of chamber 5 so that the ends of the flap valve II whenpositioned in chamber 5 are spaced from each other to form a verticaltrough I8.

The other part of the flap valve assembly comprises a relatively thinrectangular retainer or wedge I9 of a length substantially that of thepart of chamber 5 within casing I2. The width of retainer I9 is slightlyless than the diameter of the upper part of chamber I2. The corner ofthe upper end of retainer I9 may be curved slightly for ease inassembly, as shown at 20.

The outlet 1 is in a removable threaded cap '2 I. It is apparent thatball 8 is placed in the device when cap 2| is removed and the ball valveassembly completed when can 2| is screwed into position.

The flap valve assembly is placed in position when lower cap I3 has beenunscrewed from main' casing I2. Flap valve II is rolled into tubularshape and inserted into chamber 5 of casing I2 with the two spaced endspositioned between the opposed areas of the slots [5. Retainer I9 isthen forced into the center of chamber 5 with one side edge bearingagainst the middle of flap valve IT, as shown at 22, the opposite edgepositioned in the trough I8 between the two spaced ends of the flapvalve I I, and bearing against the wall of chamber 5 to form a centralweb within the chamber 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. This is a forcedfriction fit and the middle of flap valve I1 is pinched against the wallof chamber 5 and the spaced ends are free. The curved ends 20 ofretainer I9 facilitate the positioning of the retainer I9.

In operation, the usual spark plug is removed from the cylinder I andthe adapter 2 is substi- 3 tuted therefor. The engine is operated by theother cylinders and on the downstroke of the piston of cylinder i air isdrawn through slots 45 into the cylinder. The free ends of flap valve I!move inwardly to permit this intake of external air. During thedownstroke of the piston the ball 8 rests in seat 9 to close outlet 1.On the upstroke the air which has been drawn into the cylinder I isforced upwardly to unseat ball 8 and be forced from outlet 1. During theupstroke the slots I are closed by flap valve II, the pressure of theair moving upwardly from 'tlie 'cylinderl forcing the valve materialagainst the slots P5 to close them. The air thus pumped is directed fromhose 4 where desired and when finished the adapter 2 is removed and thespark plug replaced so that the engine will operate on all cyl in ders.

It is apparent from the above detailed specification that novelty andinvention of this devic rests in the extreme simplicity of the parts foring the flap valve assembly which permits ut most ease in assembly,maintenance and repair yet gives efiicient results. Inasmuch as devicesof this kind are used mostly in remote countries and locations whereservice and rep-air facilities are meager or entirely lacking, thedesirability of such a simple assembly comprising a minimum number-ofuncompleted parts is easily appreciated.

I claim:

1. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having a centralcylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an airoutlet, the inventionthat comprises an air flap assembly comprising a flap valve formed ofone rectangular piece of flexible material having uninterrupted paralleledges of a length less than the circumference of the chamber saidmaterial being coiled to form a tubular lining for said chamber withspaced ends and a thin blade-like rectangular retainer having a widthslightly less than the diameter of the chamber positioned centrallythereof in a forced fit one edge thereof pinchingthe central part of theflap valve against one side of the chamber along its full length and theother edge bearing along its full length against the opposite wall ofthe chamber between the spaced ends.

2. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having a centralcylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an air outlet, theinvention that comprises an air flap assembly comprising a flap valveformed of one rectangular piece of flexible material with uninterruptedparallel edges of a length less than the circumference of the chambersaid material being coiled to form a tubular lining for said chamberwith spaced ends and a thin fiat rectangular retainer having a widthslightly less than the diameter of the chamber but greater than theinner diameter of the flap valve lining, said retainer positionedvertically and centrally within the chamber in a friction fit along thefull lengths of its opposed edges between the flap valve material at oneside of the chamber and the inner' wall of the opposite side of thechamber between the spaced ends.

3. In an air pump adapter comprising a casing having-a-centralcylindrical chamber with side air inlets and an air outlet, theinvention that comprises'an air flap assembly comprising a flap valveformed of one substantially rectangular piece of flexible material of alength less than the circumference of the chamber, said material beingcoiled to form a tubular lining for said chamber with spaced ends, and athin, fiat, substantially rectangular retainer having a width slightlyless than the diameter of the chamber but greater than the innerdiameter of the flap valve lining, said retainer positioned verticallyand centrally within the chamber in a friction fit between the flapvalve'material at one side of the chamber and the inner Wall of theopposite side of the chamber between the spaced ends, one edge of theretainer bearing against the flap valve material from the top to thebottom of said material the opposite edge bearing against the inner wallthe entire length of said opposite edge.

PATRICK J. SHEEHAN.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,412,232 Sutton Dec. 10, 1946

